The actor, 57 – who has previously starred in films such as The Punisher and Wild Things – turned to violence after an inquisitive reporter offended him with his line of questioning at an awards bash in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The reporter asked the firey actor why his son, Eduardo Yáñez Garcia, was forced to look to internet donations to pay for his $8,000 (£6,000) medical bill – which resulted in the actor seeing red.

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In answer to the question, he told Paco Fuentes, a reporter for Spanish language programme El Gordo la Flaca (The Fat And The Skinny): ‘If you’re so worried about my son, you send him the money or go talk to him,’ according to People.

The magazine also states that the relationship between the actor and his son in the past has been ‘fraught’.

When the journalist attempted to say that he was acting in the public interest, Yanez quickly responded: ‘That’s bull.’

The moment Yáñez struck the reporter for asking him about why his son had to fund his own medical bill following a car accident. (Picture: CEN)

‘That’s what you say to get people involved in what they don’t care about. But the concerned one is you, brother. You go and tell [my son] what you have to say,’ he lashed out angrily.

‘Just remember that the press is the link between…’ he continued before saying: ‘You are a pure asshole. Do not disrespect me,’ before striking the reporter on the head.